Review: Keeping Her by Cora Carmack

Garrick Taylor and Bliss Edwards managed to find their happily-ever-after despite a rather . . . ahem . . . complicated start. By comparison, meeting the parents should be an absolute breeze, right?

But from the moment the pair lands in London, new snags just keep cropping up: a disapproving mother-in-law-to-be, more than one (mostly) minor mishap, and the realization that perhaps they aren't quite as ready for their future as they thought.

As it turns out, the only thing harder than finding love is keeping it

I can’t explain how nervous I was when I picked up Losing It. Still a novice when it came to New Adult, my introduction to the category hadn’t always been…successful. I was wary of certain themes particularly virginity and the idea that it was something wrong to possess after a certain age and it’s apparent need to be dispensed with as quickly as possible in order to be considered “normal”. So when I picked up LOSING IT, a book based around the topic I was certain this was a car crash waiting to happen. Happily Cora Carmack’s sensitive, warm and evocative writing quickly dispelled my fears and I fell in love with her realistic,charming and all-round loveable characters. Following Bliss and Garrick’s path towards true love was captivating and the sneak peak we got into their lives in the equally amazing FAKING IT wasn’t enough. Thankfully Cora Carmack is all sorts of awesome and gives us KEEPING HER – an update on how Bliss and Garrick are getting on.

Set approximately a year after LOSING IT, Bliss and Garrick are firmly ensconced in domestic bliss, living in Philly, super busy and successful in their respective careers in the theatre. An upcoming trip to London to finally meet with Garrick’s parents and friends weighs heavily on the couple’s minds. Bliss is terrified that she’ll make a bad impression and probably set her hair on fire and Garrick is nervous about facing his past and the collision of the man he used to be with the man he is now.

Despite the (TOO) short length of this novella, Carmack really packs it in. We get a clear picture into how Bliss and Garrick have grown and connected as a couple, becoming a solid team, totally in love but still susceptible to both their own insecurities and outside pressures. I loved reading how they sorted through their issues and came out stronger in the end. There’s a major plot-line which causes all the chaos which I CANNOT spoil because it was so exciting and had me on tenterhooks and clicking desperately page after page to find out how it would all end up and I can only say when you come to the end you’ll probably scream NOOOOOOO that CC would leave you there…right there! Seriously can’t we have like a monthly newsletter or something? This cannot be the end!

Packed full of awesome pop culture references (If you don’t know who Alex Mack is you need to plan a DVD marathon like yesterday!) and fab new characters including the irrepressible Rowland and mischievous Graham and let’s not forget the chilly (I called her a cold fish) Mrs. Taylor! Eek! KEEPING HER is the perfect companion to Carmack’s amazing LOSING IT series. With FINDING IT’s release day around the corner it was just enough to keep us Bliss and Garrick fans both satisfied and asking (begging) for just.a.little.bit.more…please?

I know! I didn’t want it to end and I still want more Bliss and Garrick. LOL. This won’t be enough for me! I am glad she did the novella though because you’re right: I needed more than the little bit in Faking It. Great review Dani! I’m glad you ended up really loving this series too!

Yay I’m so excited to get home and read this! Also, I LOVE this cover so much more than the cover for Losing It. Garrick is hot and Bliss’ hair doesn’t look so wonky. My criteria is obviously very sophisticated. 😉

I have heard nothing but great things about LOSING IT and I’m convinced I need to read it. That’s awesome that Cora wrote an update on the beloved characters! I love that you could see their growth, not only individually but also as a couple. Great review!

So I’m not the biggest fan of Garrick and Bliss but I’m glad to hear this takes place a year later. Had it been immediately after, I wouldn’t have been as convinced their relationship would last. I’m pretty excited to read this. Now if only Finding It would release already. Fab review!